STYX PRIDE
| STYX PRIDE |
| May 2008 STYX PRIDE = 9 This pride continues to be the most viewed pride over the report period. The large number of different sighting of this pride pays tribute to the fact that this pride has been very fragmented over the last report period. The lionesses cover a large area and are most often found with a large distance between individuals. There seems to be a trend of three lionesses associating together within the Middle reaches of the Mlowathi system; two lionesses associating together in the very northern section of the Mlowathi River, very often associating with the Eyrefield Male Lions, and two Lionesses associating together in the Ostrich Koppies area and Matshapiri river system, very often in the company of the Rollercoaster male lion. Of these two lionesses, one is pregnant and one is suckling at least
three young cubs. These cubs have been seen on top of Ostrich Koppies
as well as Campbell Koppies. Rangers estimate the cubs to be around
2 months old. The cubs have been fathered by the Rollercoaster male
lion, and the fate of these cubs hangs in the balance, and depends on
the Rollercoaster male lion maintaining his dominance in this area.
There was fears that one of the lionesses, and five cubs, had been killed
by the Eyrefield male lions, after reports from a neighbouring property,
but on the 21/05/08 all seven lionesses were seen together. Avery rare
situation for this pride April 2008 STYX PRIDE = 7 The Styx pride has had a rollercoaster ride over the last month when it comes to their offspring. Last month they lost one of their older cubs to buffalo, the three remaining cubs of that litter have not been seen for over a month. Two of the pride females have now had cubs over the last month. One of the older females gave birth to at least three cubs on top of Campbell Koppies, while towards the end of the month one of the lionesses gave birth to at least two cubs in the Mlowathi River. After the first sighting of these little cubs they have not been seen again. It is possible that they have been moved to Campbell Koppies where the other cubs are expected to be. However the temperatures over the last few days of the month have been so cold that there is the chance that they have not survived. The Styx lionesses are renowned for being hard mothers and not attending to their cubs in a suitably attentive manner.
In other news, they have had a very successful month of hunting and consolidating their territory. They are now well established along the Mlowathi and Campbell Koppies areas with frequent adventures into eastern Eyrefield and onto Mala Mala. They have driven the Eyrefield pride well south and west towards the Kapen area. Over the last month they have killed numerous kudu, impala as well as a warthog. The Rollercoaster male still spends most of his time with this pride.
He stole an impala kill, presumably killed by a leopard, on the airstrip.
He has been seen frequently to mate with the Styx lionesses that do
not have cubs. However, it is unsure as to whether the new cubs are
his or belong to one of the five Eyrefield males that are still making
sorties into the northern Mlowathi area. The important thing is that
he assumes they are his and protects them as such. Hopefully if the
Eyrefield males take over, they will likewise make this assumption and
the cubs my yet escape the takeover unharmed. January 2008 STYX PRIDE = 7 2 ADULT FEMALES * 12 YEARS 4 MONTHS Location: MARTHLY, MALA MALA, EYREFIELD, FLOCKFIELD The Styx pride is doing very well for itself and it was the most viewed pride on MalaMala for January. The cubs are growing strong and the females are giving quite a lot of care, which is not usual for this pride. They spend most of their time around the Campbell Koppies area, however they moved as far east as the KNP and as far west as Sparta. They also ventured north into Gowrie.
This month has seen a lot of activity for the Styx pride in and around the new airstrip area. This area is also frequented by the Eyrefield pride. This led to an aggressive interaction between the two prides and subsequently the Eyrefield pride has moved west of our border for much of the time since then. Interestingly the Rollercoaster male has been spending a lot of time with the Styx pride and has been seen to mate with the younger lioness on a number of occasions. Hopefully in the fullness of time this will lead to another pregnancy and further introductions into the pride. During the early portion of the report period, two of the Styx lionesses were seen to mate with two of the Eyrefield males. This behaviour is interesting in that the females may be mating with all the male lions in the area to try and stop the infanticide that will, without a doubt, take place when a new male coalition takes over the territory. Only once during the report period were the Styx lionesses seen to hunt and kill. They killed a juvenile impala on the last day of the report period. They were seen to hunt and stalk on many occasions and there were many times when they were found with full bellies but no sign of what they had killed. Hopefully in time this pride will remain one of MalaMala’s most dominant prides. MalaMala
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